‘$64,000 Question’, 1st Anniversary Show, June 7, 1956

The $64,000 Question premiered June 7, 1955 on CBS-TV, sponsored by cosmetics maker Revlon and originating from the start live from CBS-TV Studio 52 in New York (later the disco-theater Studio 54). The first contestant on the show was Thelma Farrell Bennett, a housewife from Trenton, New Jersey who failed to make it to the first plateau but won a 1955 Cadillac convertible.
To increase the show’s drama and suspense, it was decided to use an actor rather than a broadcaster as the host. Television and film actor Hal March, familiar to TV viewers as a supporting regular on ‘The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show’ and ‘My Friend Irma’, found instant fame as the quiz show’s host, and Lynn Dollar stood nearby as his assistant.

‘The $64,000 Question’ had its roots in the CBS radio quiz show, ‘Take It or Leave It’, which followed in the wake of the pioneering ‘Professor Quiz’ (radio’s first quiz program) and ‘Uncle Jim’s Question Bee’ (the second radio quiz show). ‘Take It or Leave It’ ran from April 21, 1940 to July 27, 1947. It was first hosted by Bob Hawk (1940–41), followed by Phil Baker (1941–47). In 1947, the series switched to NBC, hosted at various times by Baker, Garry Moore (1947–49), Eddie Cantor (1949–50) and Jack Paar (beginning June 11, 1950). On September 10, 1950, ‘Take It or Leave I’t changed its title to ‘The $64 Question’. Paar continued as host, followed by Baker (March–December 1951) and Paar (back on December 1951). The series continued on NBC Radio until June 1, 1952.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl8h6GtF5Qg

Hal March hosts the show that awards large sums of money to contestants that answer complex questions..

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